Paul J. Weitz

Paul J. Weitz

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1932. He graduated from Harbor Creek High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1954. Weitz went on to receive a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California in 1964. Weitz received numerous awards and received his commission as an ensign through the NROTC program at Penn State University.

 

He served for one year at sea aboard a destroyed before going to flight training and was awarded his wings in 1956. He logged more than 7,700 hours of flying time, 6,400 hours in jet aircraft. He served in various naval squadrons until he was selected as an astronaut in 1966. Mr. Weitz was one of just 19 astronauts selected by NASA in 1966. He served as pilot on the crew of Skylab-2, which launched on May 25 and ended on June 22, 1973. SL-2 was the first manned Skylab mission, and the first 28-day flight. The crew established what was then a new world record for a single mission, logging 672 hours aboard the orbital workshop. Weitz also logged 2 hours and 11 minutes outside of the spacecraft. He went on to become the Commander of the crew STS-6 that launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 4, 1983. This was the maiden voyage of the Orbiter Challenger. During this mission, the crew conducted numerous experiments in materials processing, recorded lightning activities, deployed IUS/TDRS-A, and conducted spectacular extra-vehicular activity while testing a variety of support systems in preparation for future space walks. With the completion of this flight, Paul Weitz logged a total of 796 hours in space. Weitz then moved on to become Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center when he retired from NASA service in May 1994. He currently resides in Arizona.